Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.

Besides what has been said, people are fickle by nature; and it is a simple to convince them of something but difficult to hold them in that conviction; and, therefore, affairs should be managed in such a way that when they no longer believe, they can be made to believe by force.

...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried.

It makes him hated above all things, as I have said, to be rapacious, and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects, from both of which he must abstain.

Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.

Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.